Of Biking and Birding - In Search of the European Bee Eaters. Migrant Diaries #1

It all started in mid September this year, with a post from one of my friend's on facebook, stating the arrival of European Bee Eater at the Kanakpura - Galibore - Bheemeshwari area. That was more than enough to plan a trip in Search of these passing by migrants who had opted Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary as a pitfall in between their long migratory route. High with enthusiasm plans were made but unfortunately they were never executed! :(

First Record Shot

Last Saturday when I and Yogesh were briding with some fellow birder from Bangalore, they mentioned sighting these guests the day before on their visit! And thus the idea hatched in the next 10 min... Myself very much eager for a long drive on my new bike and more eagerness to sight and watch these beauties.. I and yogesh decided to head out to the 100kms ( Approx) away Sangama area in Kanakpura and try our best to catch of glimpse of these birds in route.

A Common Crow

Starting early morning on Sunday- 13th of Oct, we headed out to Kanakpura, pleasant morning with a mild chill and the Sun slowly climbing the horizon, I enjoyed riding my bike all the way from Bangalore to Kanakpura... Truly Yamaha FZ is one hell of a bike to cruise along the highway and also one hell of a bike that endured my torture of driving in all terrain presented to us that day, Hats of Yamaha for this wonderful motorbike! :)

My beloved FZ

Crossing Kanakpura, one the way to Sangama our birding started with a Zitting Cisticolla, a lifer for me and charming little chap indeed.

Following the Zitting were Small Minivets, White Browed Bulbul, Sun birds, munias etc....

Zitting Cisticola

Small Minivet Taking Off

White Browed Bulbul

And finally having traveled around nearly 75 km, we came across the open cultivation lands, one of the favorite hangouts for our European Visitors and there we sighted our first European Bee Eater. The description given to us was so exactly the match, Larger than the normal Green Bee Eater, more brightly and vibrantly colored... they really standard apart!

Pioneer White or African Caper White laying eggs

Along with these we also sighted some Collared Dove and Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark.

Having clicked some record shot, we continued to head towards Sangama, hoping to see some good Raptors and more closer views of Bee Eaters!

Our luck with the raptors was very bad, a single sighting but that too not a confirmed ID on the species!

We had some good time photographing the butterflies and wagtails!

Blue Tigers

With a dejected heart of not seeing the raptors we started our way back and to your luck we got some decent picture of the Bee Eater on the way back.

Having clocked a 250kms ( approx) on my first long trip and nearly 70% Successful trip of alteast having seen the Bee Eaters, we arrived back in Bangalore after another wonderful birding weekend. :)

The local resident Green Bee Eater

It was a day for the European Bee Eater indeed!.

The European Visitor